PRSM2014 National Conference is just around the corner, have you registered?PRSMWhat does it take to be a successful, multi-site facilities professional today, and in the future? PRSM2014 National Conference Re:Think Retail, Re:Think Facilities and Re:Think Ourselves,will challenge every attendee to re-examine how and why they do business the way they do. If we were to reimagine and rethink what the future looks like for retail, for facilities maintenance and for ourselves, the scenarios may be uniquely diverse with outcomes different from today. More than 350 of your FM colleagues are attending from the most innovative brands. They’ll be sharing their best practices, industry knowledge and waiting to learn from you also. Register today!

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Nation's biggest mall getting biggerRetailing TodayA $325 million expansion underway at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., promises to make the 4.2-million-sq.-ft. retail institution even more of a destination. The expansion will include space for 50 new retailers, a 342-room JW Marriott hotel, a 180,000-sq.ft. office tower, new dining options, a tourist welcome center and large event space.

Gap to open first-ever franchise-operated Old Navy stores in ManilaRetailing TodayAs part of its international growth strategy, Gap plans to open five franchise-operated Old Navy stores in the Philippines in 2014. The first two Old Navy stores will open in Manila this month, and there are plans to open three more stores in the second half of the year for a total of five Old Navy stores this year.

Starbucks partners with Oprah, plans alcohol in thousands of storesLos Angeles TimesStarbucks Corp. will extend its post-4 p.m. Evenings menu, which includes alcohol, to thousands of stores nationwide. The program is already available at more than 25 locations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Portland and Atlanta, according to the company's website.

Not dead yet: The American shopping mall is changing, not going awayYahoo FinanceA decade ago there were more than 1,100 enclosed shopping malls in the U.S. Since then more than 400 have either been "re-purposed" or closed outright. No new malls have been completed since at least 2009. The trend has become so pronounced it has its own website, DeadMalls.com where shoppers and developers swap stories and mourn the demise of their childhood haunts.

Refrigerant, water, air leaks can all lead to HVAC problemsFacilitiesnetLeaks — of refrigerant, water, or air — can result not only in inefficiencies and higher operating costs, but also in occupant discomfort and the inability of the HVAC system to meet the cooling and heating requirements of a building. Losses due to leaks can be significant and often go unnoticed, especially in a campus distribution scenario, such as a university or airport, where piping is underground and not accessible.

REI retrofits its data centers for energy efficiencySTORESSometimes an opportunity can hit you squarely in the face like a blast of cold air — much like the air found in a typical data center. Data centers cannot go down, ever, or business will grind to a screeching halt, especially if there is no backup. But with computers running 24/7, the equipment in a data center gives off its own heat — and that equipment must be kept cool to prevent heat-related failures, which usually requires heavy-duty air conditioners running constantly.

Dollar General to recycle smaller unitsSupermarket NewsDollar General Corp., Goodlettsville, Tenn., plans to pursue a "lifecycle remodeling" program for its smallest stores rather than relocating them, Rick Dreiling, chairman and CEO, told investors during an earnings call.

First steps to retrocommissioningFacilitiesNetIf a facility manager is considering retrocommissioning (RCx), what are the first steps s/he should take?
A benchmarking effort should be the beginning of all RCx projects. Benchmarking is one high level indicator that a building is a good RCx candidate. Benchmarking means comparing a buildings annual energy consumption to a database of similar buildings to determine if it using an unjustified high amount of energy.

24 Years of Work with National Retail ChainsThoreau Services Inc. is a Woman Owned Business. We are a nationwide industry leader, specializing in retail stores. We provide complete janitorial services including: floor repair, carpet and window cleaning, strip and wax, construction cleans, complete maintenance programs, and emergency services. We have built a reputation based on high standards, dependability, and pride in providing clients professional services!
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Innovations in improving indoor air qualityBy Michael J. BerensPoor indoor air quality now ranks as one of the world's most critical health issues. Efforts to improve indoor air quality have encountered some limitations as builders and engineers have had to balance them with other demands, such as improving building performance and reducing energy consumption. A number of industry organizations, research institutions and universities throughout the world are engaged in finding solutions that will satisfy both IAQ and energy requirements. Some recent developments show promise of helping to breaking the gridlock.

Buyout activity in retail expected to be strong this yearSt. Louis Post-DispatchSeldom have men's suits been the subject of so much drama. But the back-and-forth war between Men's Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank finally concluded with a deal by the former to buy the latter for $1.8 billion.

Image: Hassle Free CleanImage continues to embrace cutting edge technology in order to meet the budget challenges of the US retailer while raising the bar for service delivery. MORE

Put Energy Back Into ProfitsWe understand that maintenance and energy use are related. When you think of Predictive Service, think facility optimization…not just facility maintenance. We offer: Predictive Maintenance, Scheduled Maintenance, On-Demand Maintenance and Energy Solutions.MORE

Withstand the weatherToday's Facility ManagerThe roof is a commercial building’s first line of defense against natural hazards such as wind, rain, fire, hail, ice, snow, and extreme heat; it is also the most vulnerable part of a facility. Every day, roofs are exposed to weather and other elements that may contribute to decay and deterioration, increasing the risk of damage to the roof itself and the contents below it.

Let's work together.Through a proactive application of services tailored to meet whatever problem may arise, we can find efficient, productive and cost effective solutions while maintaining the integrity of your brand. MORE

Dream for Trader Joe's fans realized: Colorado Springs, Colo., to get store in 2015The GazetteTrader Joe's fanatics, your wish has been granted: The ultra-popular specialty grocer will open its first Colorado Springs, Colo., store in 2015. The California-based chain has signed a lease to open a 12,500-square-foot grocery at the University Village Colorado shopping center, northwest of Nevada Avenue and Garden of the Gods Road, a Trader Joe's spokeswoman said.

#1 Provider of Commercial Grounds CareU.S. Lawns has over 260 locations nationwide. From retail to restaurants to office parks to apartment complexes, our mission is to beautify communities and help local businesses grow.MORE

Bargain retail lifts US shopping centers as big names stumbleReutersBargain store chains are flooding into North American malls and shopping centers like never before, upstaging old mainstays like J.C. Penney and Sears that are reeling from the one-two punch of an ailing economy and competition from online stores. "We're seeing a seismic shift in retail shopping centers," said Garrick Brown, director of research at real estate firm Cassidy Turley. "The challenges of the weak economy are being replaced by the challenges of e-commerce."

Retailers feel the heat over tobacco salesCBS NewsThe pressure is on some of the nation's top retailing names to quit selling tobacco products, which now bring in billions of dollars in revenue. No. 1 retailer Wal-Mart, along with Walgreen and Rite-Aid, two of the largest pharmacy chains, and top grocery store operators Kroger (KR) and Safeway are feeling the heat from state attorneys general and public health advocates.

Landmark® packaged rooftop units not only offer reliable, energy-smart heating and cooling, they also provide easy connection to the BACnet system that controls your building. So you can enjoy complete control from one simple interface, along with innovation and energy efficiency. Explore Landmark>

Benjamin Moore introduces Customer Care, a powerful new service program for the facility maintenance industry. This program guarantees product availability & pricing consistency nationwide for property owners or managers, as well as, provides a centralized model for ordering, billing and project reporting.
Learn more about becoming a Benjamin Moore Customer Care Member 201-949-6643.

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